The intention of healthcare workers to apply personal protective equipment during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, much attention has been focused on the risks of infection faced by healthcare workers while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Appropriate usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) is important in protecting healthcare workers from infection.

AIM This study employed the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to assess healthcare workers’ intention to use PPE during CPR and the factors affecting their intention in a hospital setting.METHODS It was a cross-sectional survey using a theory-based (TPB), self-developed questionnaire. A total of 243 healthcare workers were recruited using convenience sampling method. Demographics and TPB-related data (intention, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control) were collected for exploring health-care workers’ intention to use PPE during CPR.

RESULTS Temporal stability and internal consistency of the questionnaire were established by test retest method and Cronbach’s alpha respectively. Construct validity was established by means of confirmatory factor analysis.Structural Equation Modelling analysis revealed that attitudes and perceived behavioural control were significant predictors of healthcare workers’ intention regarding PPE usage during CPR. Subjective norm did not have significant direct effect on the intention, but it significantly correlated with attitude and perceived control.

CONCLUSION The theory-based questionnaire is are liable and valid measure. The results of this study increase our understanding of healthcare workers’ intention to use PPE during resuscitation. Further researches are needed in this area for designing effective intervention to increase the use of PPE during CPR.